Borussia Dortmund have not given up hope of signing Jens Lehmann, the Arsenal goalkeeper.

Lehmann lost his place in the Arsenal team to Manuel Almunia and had been linked with a move to the German club in the January transfer window.

Arsene Wenger, the Arsenal manager, put that in doubt yesterday when he said Lehmann would be involved in their FA Cup tie against Burnley on Sunday.

But Hans-Joachim Watzke, the Dortmund general manager, said today that he was still "carefully optimistic" of negotiating a deal. "Jens has said that he will consider it and his answer should come in the foreseeable future," he added.

Michael Zorc, the Dortmund director of sport , added that Arsenal would be prepared to let Lehmann leave without a fee. "The club [Arsenal] have shown their willingness to let Jens leave on a free transfer," he said.

Dortmund are looking for a new goalkeeper as their regular first choice, Roman Weidenfeller, has been ruled out for three months after a shoulder operation.